While about 60% of KDnuggets readers think AI and Automation will improve society, the optimism drops significantly among those with 4 or more years experience developing AI systems. Should we pay more attention to the experts?

What will be the impact on Society of increased Automation, AI, and Machine Learning?

Based on 588 votes, the overall results show high level of optimism,
with 59% thinking the society will become better and only 14% saying it will become worse - see below:

As a result of increased automation and AI, the society

will become better

59%

will not have a significant change

13%

will become worse

14%

not sure

14%

This is very similar to a recent
global survey where 61% said that society will become better with increased automation and AI.

However, interesting, surprising, and unsettling findings emerge when we cross-correlate the optimism with experience in developing AI, Machine Learning, and similar systems (2nd question in the poll).

Fig. 1: Impact of AI, Automation on society vs Years of experience developing AI, Machine Learning and similar systems.

We see high level of optimism among people with zero to 4 years of experience - novices (above 60%), with optimism dropping significantly among people with 4 or more years of experience. The sharp division is especially clear in Fig. 2 below.

The most optimistic regions are Africa, Asia, and Latin America,
while Australia/NZ is the most pessimistic. However, the optimism about AI, Automation clearly declines as average experience increases.

Should we pay more attention to the experts?

The history of climate change science offer a cautionary tale about ignoring expert opinion.

Some experts were already warning about warming climate
already in 1970s, but it took another 20-30 years before the general public and politicians started to pay attention. Here is the US there are still powerful interests that continue to deny the reality of climate change.

There are few prominent people today, such as Elon Musk, that warn about
"dangerous effects" of AI, but so far they are not taken seriously by the public or politicians.